Antonia Hodgson (born 1971) is a British writer and publisher. She is the author of four acclaimed historical crime novels and one fantasy novel. Retrieved 3 Sept 2026. In 2026, she was awarded the Astounding Award for Best New Writer.
Early life and education Hodgson was born in Derby in 1971. She attended Littleover Community School. She graduated with a degree in English Literature from Leeds University in 1994 and she went to work for Harcourt, Brace.Antonia Hodgson, The Bookseller, retrieved 29 May 2015
Career Hodgson spent nearly twenty years in the publishing business rising to editor-in-chief at Little, Brown before she published her own first novel.
Hodgson's first novel, A Devil in the Marshalsea, published in 2014, is the first in a series about a character named Tom Hawkins. Retrieved 6 Sept 2026. The novel is set in the time of the early Georgians, William Hogarth and the Southwark prison the Marshalsea. Retrieved 5 Sept 2026. Hodgson believes that the Georgian period was more intriguing than the Victorian era which is usually considered to be more culturally important.The Last Confession of Thomas Hawkins, The Express, published and retrieved on 29 May 2015 The book was submitted anonymously to the publishers, Hodder & Stoughton, because she was known in the publishing industry. The book won the 2014 Crime Writers' Association's Historical Dagger Award and was shortlisted for the CWA New Blood Dagger Award. Retrieved 5 Sept 2026.Antonia Hodgson , Hodder, retrieved 28 May 2015 It also was shortlisted for the 2015 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year Award.
Hodgson's second novel, The Last Confession of Thomas Hawkins, received a starred review from Kirkus Reviews. Retrieved 5 Sept 2026. The fourth novel in the series, The Silver Collar, was shortlisted for the Historical Writers' Association 2021 HWA Gold Crown. Retrieved 5 Sept 2026.
Hodgson's fifth book and first fantasy novel, The Raven Scholar, was published in 2025 by Orbit Books. It was a finalist for the 2026 Hugo Award for Best Novel. It is the first book in a fantasy trilogy called The Eternal Path. The trilogy's second book, The Fox in Winter, is set to be released October 5, 2027. Retrieved 09-21-2026. Retrieved 5 Sept 2026.
Bibliography Thomas Hawkins Series
The Eternal Path Trilogy
Awards and nominations + Year Work Award Category Result Ref. 2014 A Devil in the Marshalsea Crime Writers' Association Historical Dagger Crime Writers' Association New Blood Dagger 2015Theakston Old Peculier Crime Novel of the Year— 2021 The Silver Collar Historical Writers' Association Crown Awards HWA Gold Crown 2026 — Astounding Award for Best New Writer — The Raven Scholar Compton Crook Award — Hugo Award Novel
References